About Us

The National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS)

NCEAS conducts transformational science focused on informing solutions that will allow people and nature to thrive.

We are an independent research affiliate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a global network and impact.

Our Mission

We work to accelerate scientific discoveries that will enhance our understanding of the world and benefit people and nature, as well as to transform the scientific culture to be more open, efficient, and collaborative. We do this by

Enabling collaborations between the brightest minds in the environmental sciences

Conducting breakthrough science that is grounded in big-picture thinking

Improving analyses through computing innovations that increase the (re)usability of data

Partnering with agencies and organizations that can help put the science to action

Training and inspiring generations of scientists to practice synthesis and open science

Our History and Impact

Established in 1995, NCEAS was the first synthesis science center in the world. We pioneered the movement toward this collaborative approach to science and have helped build a community of scientists around it.

Why the butterfly?

The butterfly in our logo alludes to the Lorenz attractor, a butterfly pattern created by the computation of mathematical equations that are part of chaos theory. It visualizes the idea that small changes can have widely differing and sometimes big outcomes, an idea applicable to the study of nature.

Our logo also pays homage to the iconic Monarch butterfly, populations of which overwinter in our home, Santa Barbara, California.